Word name meaning to grow, become greater or multiply by having young; used primarily by the Puritans.
Increase Mather's first name was inspired by "the never-to-be-forgotten increase, of every sort, wherewith God favoured the country about the time of his nativity."

Increase Mather, prominent Puritan minister and President of Harvard University; father of Cotton Mather
Increase Lapham, 19th-century American scientist, naturalist and author
Increase Sumner, early governor of Massachusetts
Sumner Increase Kimball, organizer of the United States Life-Saving Service (precursor to the Coast Guard)
Increase Nowell, prominent Puritan settler in Charlestown, Massachusetts